Elections to begin for Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

Five community-minded Texas Panhandle residents with one special quality in common are sought to join a statewide advocacy group.

The Area Agency on Aging will have elections for five at-large positions representing the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle on the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature.

To be eligible, director Melissa Carter said, the prospective legislators must have turned 60 years old by Jan. 1 and must be a registered voter.

Filing deadline is Feb. 28. Candidates must fill out an information form and have a petition signed by 25 registered voters age 60 or older.

The Silver-Haired Legislature creates resolutions and presents them to the Texas state legislature.

“They’re really trying to focus the state legislature’s attention on those who need the most help,” Carter said.

Alan Abraham, a retired minister who has served on the Silver-Haired Legislature since 2004, said the group has been responsible for such legal changes as the property tax freeze for seniors; the Silver Alert system that broadcasts information about missing seniors, similar to the Amber Alert for children; and increased regulation of service providers for seniors, like home health agencies.

“We have the unlimited power of suggestion, as long as we’re suggesting legislative things,” Abraham said. “And we are fairly successful. Out of 50 to 60 resolutions (per term), we have 14 or 15 of them in a given legislative session turned into some form of law.”

Carter said she finds the volunteers to be particularly dedicated.

“They’re dogs with bones, and I love it,” she said.

Volunteers must pay their own way to meetings in Austin three times per two-year term.

“It’s well worth it if you have an interest in helping seniors and looking after them legislatively,” Abraham said.

Election for the posts will be held May 28. Polling places will be set up across the Texas Panhandle, generally in senior citizen centers and public libraries, Carter said.

Any registered voter age 60 or older can vote, she said.

“The turnout for that is just amazing for something you would think people don’t even know about, but they are the majority of our voters anyway,” Carter said.

“It’s inspiring to see them want to get out and do that so they can have a voice that knows where they’re coming from.”

To register

For information or to obtain forms for filing, contact Melissa Carter at the Area Agency on Aging at 806-331-2227 (inside Amarillo), 1-800-642-6008 (outside Amarillo) or via email at mcarter@theprpc.org.